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Head Start and Early Head Start in East Orange, NJ

9 centers in East Orange (Essex County). 6 offer Early Head Start, from pregnancy to age 3, and 7 offer Head Start preschool for ages 3 to 5. You apply through 2 programs, which report 475 funded slots here. It's free if you qualify.

Source: Office of Head Start service locations, as of October 2026. Each program reports its own sites, so call before you visit. Closed sites are left out.

Who qualifies in New Jersey

$27,320a year or less for a family of three, or $33,000 for four. That's the 2026 federal poverty line, Head Start's income limit.

You also qualify at any income if you get TANF or SSI, your child is in foster care, or your family is homeless.

Sources: 45 CFR 1302.12; HHS poverty guidelines

Poverty guidelines for every family size

Centers in East Orange

Listed A to Z. A center may serve only some ages; the tags show which programs it runs.

  • Bakery Village

    Early Head Start

    1 4th Ave, East Orange, NJ 07017

    Run by The Leaguers Inc. · 74 funded slots

    (973) 643-0300
    CallDirections

  • Corrina Kay Williams Head Start/Early Head Start Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    50 Washington St, East Orange, NJ 07017

    Run by East Orange Child Development Corporation · 113 funded slots

    (973) 266-5380
    CallDirections

  • East Orange Child Development Corp (44 Glenwood)

    Early Head StartHead Start

    44 Glenwood Ave, East Orange, NJ 07017

    Run by East Orange Child Development Corporation · 39 funded slots

    (973) 266-5380
    CallDirections

  • Harambee Family Academy

    Head Start

    60 Glenwood Ave, East Orange, NJ 07017

    Run by East Orange Child Development Corporation · 26 funded slots

    (973) 675-4411
    CallDirections

  • L. HAROLD KARNS Site Early Head Start Center

    Early Head Start

    682 Park Ave, East Orange, NJ 07017

    Run by East Orange Child Development Corporation · 32 funded slots

    (973) 676-1110
    CallDirections

  • Norjenes

    Head Start

    61 N Arlington Ave, East Orange, NJ 07017

    Run by East Orange Child Development Corporation · 10 funded slots

    (973) 675-9330
    CallDirections

  • Pearly Hayes Head Start/Early Head Start Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    106 Washington St, East Orange, NJ 07017

    Run by East Orange Child Development Corporation · 39 funded slots

    (973) 676-1110
    CallDirections

  • Robert F Aprea Head Start / Early Head Start Center

    Early Head StartHead Start

    25 S Munn Ave, East Orange, NJ 07018

    Run by East Orange Child Development Corporation · 38 funded slots

    (973) 266-0947
    CallDirections

  • Three Stages Learning Center

    Head Start

    91 S Harrison St, East Orange, NJ 07018

    Run by East Orange Child Development Corporation · 104 funded slots

    (973) 266-5380
    CallDirections

Where to apply in East Orange

You apply to the program, not to one center. Each number here is the program's enrollment line: staff check whether you qualify, tell you which centers have room, and add you to the waiting list if they're full. Counts are centers in East Orange.

  • East Orange Child Development Corporation

    8 centers · Early Head Start and Head Start

    (973) 266-5380

  • The Leaguers Inc.

    1 center · Early Head Start

    (973) 643-0300

New to Head Start? Who qualifies, what it costs and how applying works

Help paying for child care

Other benefits in New Jersey

Having a baby in New JerseyBenefits, each with its source, checked October 2026Pregnancy MedicaidUp to 205% FPLWICYesPaid family leaveYesMedicaid pays for a doulaYesSee New Jersey